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Facebook and Twitter will testify in Russian election meddling probe

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Photo: Noah Berger / AP

Facebook and Twitter confirmed they will answer questions at a November hearing that's part of a Senate committee's investigation into Russian election meddling. Alphabet has also been invited to the hearing that's part of a larger Senate Intelligence Committee investigation into Russian election inference but haven't confirmed their attendance.

Why it matters: Facebook staffers, specifically, have rarely testified on Capitol Hill despite its ascendance as one of the most valuable technology companies in the world. And many tech companies are still largely represented by trade groups in Washington. But tech is under unprecedented pressure on several fronts, and the big companies want to be seen as taking concerns seriously.

What they're not saying: Whether it will be Mark Zuckerberg in the hot seat for Facebook. Several top Facebook employees, like security executive Alex Stamos and policy chief Elliot Schrage, have been part of the public response to concerns about Russia, Facebook, and the 2016 presidential race. Twitter has also declined to say who will testify.

Go deeper: Senate Intelligence Committee leaders said there's still a long way to go in this investigation, per Axios' Alayna Treene.

This post has been updated to reflect Twitter's planned participation in the hearing.